The Music Man

"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." Psalm 40:3 


I hope you all wake up every morning with a song in your heart!

"New News" or "No News is better than Bad News"

This past week has been a week of firsts.
I feel like my poor mommy head has sprouted a new patch of greys (and I've earned every one!).

Hurricane Isaac: yes. We evacuated. You may laugh at us leaving over a category one, but we had air conditioning and power, and ate like kings while you sweated. Joke's on you! Gideon was extremely cranky though, which was rough. We also only grabbed two outfits a piece, since we weren't planning on evacuating, and ending up staying over a week. Sigh. I may never wear those clothes ever again.

Gideon entertaining family in the ICU waiting room: while you all were sweating, we were watching Bug dance, color, and eat Veggie wheat thins from his great Papaw. He did very well (except when mommy went in to visit granny), and was very patient with the rigorous hospital visitation routine. Just a shout out to UncaMitch and AuntBev: we love you! Thanks for the soup, and for just being there!

Bug's first rocking chair: Papaw Gene and Susan got him his first rocking chair, and he loves it! Na was (and continually is) surprised that he'll sit still! His sweet cousins loved it too, so hopefully Papaw Gene and Susan will find them one too.

New tennis shoes! XWide width: yes. My bug has chubby feet. But they are the cutest hobbit feet you've ever seen. Seriously. (but is there anything cuter than baby feet?!) He loves them, and they make him run even faster, which I didn't think was possible. He ran up and down the aisles of the shoe store in them before we even got to pay for them! I would say he picked them out, but they were the only ones we could find in XWide width. Ha. Oh well.

Playground visitation/feed the ducks tuppence a bag: I'm serious when I say that my husband's hometown has THE BEST playground ever. There are three separate playgrounds divided into appropriate ages. Gideon was like a pig in mud! He climbed up and down and all around, and went down the slide head first, laughing all the way down. He is definitely an outdoorsy, all BOY boy! I had to peel him off of the slide to show him the ducks, which he loves, by the way. (We've fed them at our park before and he loves to chase them!) Initially, there was only one duck, but when Bug gave him one of his puffs, one turned into 50! Gideon liked them at first, but they were very aggressive and he climbed on me like the monkey child he is and said "GO! GO!"Crazy ducks.

I could go on and on forever.
Time just goes by so fast.

I was watching Daniel Tiger with bug tonight before he went to bed, and his baby smell is wearing off. (Those who are mothers should understand!) His fine baby fuzz is getting thicker and darker, and as he lays curled up next to me, I see it start to curl as he gets sweaty.
 He's so smart. He wants to understand how things work (like the potty:he flushes it and watches the water go down again and again). And talk about Independent! We went to the park tonight and he climbed to the top of the playground by himself. I started to panic when he got out of arm's reach, but he went over to the slide and went down all by himself.

I feel so blessed to have him in my life. I honestly learn from him every day. It all reinforces my belief that being a mother is the highest calling you can have. For all my super(Tired)moms and dads out there, smell your babies' heads. Kiss them (if you can catch them!) and snuggle them close. We only have so much time with them before they leave the nest. Cherish every moment.

Love to you all.

9 to 5

Today was my first day back to work since Bug was born.
I have had what is equivalent to an emotional rollercoaster the past few weeks agonizing about it.
 "Would he be mad at me? Will I get to spend any "quality" time with him? Will we survive? Is this best for our family? Can I even do it??"

Sunday morning during our "before service prayer time," I was praying and asking God for peace and rest. I hadn't even started the job and I was already exhausted by just thinking about it all! While I was meditating on His faithfulness and goodness to me and my little family, He reminded me that when I wait on Him, my strength will be renewed. But what does that mean? How do we wait on Him, when that is so contrary to our very nature? The more I think about it, I believe He wants us to simply trust Him. Trust in His provision, His wisdom, His plan. And then rest in that knowledge.

I know most every felt board Jesus Sunday School christian knows that beautiful passage in Isaiah, but when I was reviewing it earlier this afternoon one really stood out even more so:

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11

So there you go. I know you were trying to decipher how in the world this relates to being a super(tired) mom or dad. I guess it helps just knowing we are His sheep! His kids! Even though we are mommies and daddies who carry their babies close our hearts, He carries us and gently leads us! Oh, and how about that unlimited strength and rest? (sounds really good right about now, doesn't it?) 

 I leave you with pictures of the bug eating a piece of chocolate cake ( his treat for mom's first day). 
If that doesn't bring peace and joy to your heart, I don't know what will! 

When the storm cloud closes in...

There's a storm in the gulf, and you can tell.
Besides the gusts of wind, and grey ominous clouds, there's just a feeling in the air.

I've been thinking about storms lately.
They always make me sleepy.
There's something about the rhythm in the rain and thunder that is soothing.
But when the storm is too close, the calm dissipates and the feeling of "what-if's" closes in.
That's usually the time when Bug starts yelling for mom, and I find a black furry kitty cat at my feet.

In this season of our lives (mine specifically), this is such a timely word.
When the lightning and thunder get too close for comfort, He is there.
When the storms of this life loom overhead, He is there.
My Abba Father is faithful. Even when I am not.
I find refuge in His arms. He speaks peace to my soul.

I've been meditating on Psalm 91 the last few days:
"If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." 
 

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him." 

I honestly can't think of anything more comforting.
The same unconditional love I feel for my Bug, my God feels for me.
And then some! 
So bring on the rain.
I'm feeling sleepy already.

The Norm.

Why didn't peer pressure disappear like the rest of our high school classmates?
Why do we feel the need to compare?
Sigh.

I hate facebook. I hate Pintrest. I hate the media.
I hate doilies and quilts.
I hate balanced meals cooked from scratch.
And I especially hate houses that have no dust bunnies.

And yet we put these crazy unrealistic standards in our minds of how we should or shouldn't dress, eat, act or raise our children! I had someone very recently question me about my tactics in raising Bug: Was I using flashcards? Was he using the potty yet? Do I follow the Montessori method? Does he get enough sunlight? Do I use so-and-so type of vitamin?

My answer to you, Mr. and Mrs. NaySayer, is this:
 I am capable! I am sufficient! I AM SUPER MOM!
Yes, my house needs to be dusted.
Yes, my meals my come from a box (sometimes).
Yes, my child wears second hand clothes.
Yes, he is deathly pale.
But he is cherished! He is adored! Not a day goes by that I don't surround him with prayer, asking God to help me train him to become the man he was made to be. Does he know his letters and numbers? No. Does he know how to write in cursive? No. Does he poopoo in the potty? No.
But he will!

 I'm going to breathe in this time, this season, and not fast-forward to the next one. I'll never get this time back. And who knows: A few of you out there can join me, and we can create a new norm.
One of unconditional love, acceptance and contentment with whatever season we're in.

Tomorrow is Saturday.
Or, as it is called around the Brown house "Daddy Day!"
I know everyone looks forward to the weekend in anxious anticipation, we especially celebrate the weekends as we are an Extremely Busy Family! Daddy Day is sacred and holy. A time of uninterrupted quality time. Snuggling. Laughing. Playing. This is what we all live for during the week!

To help kick off the countdown, I give you this:
One Adorable Monkey Boy!

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful, relaxing Daddy Day!

Why am I so tired?

The days must be getting shorter again.
I'm noticing new patches of grey.
And Buddy has outgrown his new pair of shoes in 3 weeks.

3 Weeks.
A lot can happen in three weeks.

The Olympics started on Friday, and we've been spending quite a bit of time watching the events. Bug loves to watch swimming. As we lay in the bed, covers pulled up, chomping on animal crackers, I watch his eyes gleam as he glances back and forth following them all the way to the end and back. I took him to the pool yesterday morning, and he practiced. He said he wants to win a gold medal someday. I believe him.

Speaking of gold medals, the neighborhood "lost boys" got 2 this afternoon. My bestest Ali and I made them with salt dough and they were perfect. We imprinted them with our Saints logo and painted them gold. Every child needs a gold medal. Yesterday as I was out for a walk with Bud, they ran up with the usual squeals of "Gillllian! Hey Buddy! Hey Mrs. Nathan!" :) Oh, how I love them so. They were especially excited, and told me that they wanted to be gymnasts when they grew up and proceeded to entertain us with various flips, splits, cartwheels and turns, grinning ear to ear. I hugged them and told them how proud I was of them, and that they could do and be whatever they set their minds to. Every child needs some encouragement. I would like to take credit, but I believe that God reminded me of those two left-over medals stowed away (just for my lost boys to share). I'll always remember the look in their eyes as they gently took them from my hands and put them on. Precious boys. I am so honored that God lets me love them. They are why we're here.